Name: Wangyal
Age: 20
Sex: Male
Profession: Student
Date of Self-immolation: 26 November 2012 at around 11:20 am (local time)
Location: Sertha Township, Rebkong, Amdo
Current whereabouts/wellbeing: Unknown
A young Tibetan student from Sertha People’s Middle School, identified as Wangyal, self-immolated on 26 November at around 11:20 am (local time). Wangyal reportedly set himself on fire on one of the main roads leading to the town centre and ran towards the golden horse statue in the middle of Sertha Town and fell to the ground. According to eyewitnesses, “His hands were clasped in prayers as he ran, raising slogans for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and freedom for the Tibetan people.”
According to a source in exile, “Chinese armed forces immediately arrived at the scene of the protest and took Wangyal away after dousing the flames”. Wangyal’s current whereabouts and condition remain unknown. Sources speculate that Wangyal would have suffered major injuries as his body was entirely engulfed in flames at the time of his action.
Wangyal is an orphan and is survived by three brothers and one sister.